DIABLO IV

The clickfest returns, grimier and more online than ever

- Tyler Wilde​

Diablo IV’s crypts are more hateful than Diablo III’s. They’re darker and dustier with Bloody Piles that explode like popped blisters in slow-mo. It’s also shinier, but in a dour way. Lightning shimmers across wet stone and fleshy creatures, and it sometimes rains, dynamically generating muddy puddles. Path of Exile feels cheerful by comparison. I’m hesitant to draw any big conclusions about Diablo IV because I imagine it’ll be quite different whenever it releases, and Blizzard says that probably won’t be soon.

The demo was quite easy, for one thing. I’d guess Blizzard didn’t want players getting frustrated, especially those who had to stand in a long line at BlizzCon, so they outfitted us with strong characters. I played the 20-minute demo twice, once as the Druid and once as the Sorceress. In the latter run I was chewing through heavy enemies like the Drowned Juggernauts – big boys who slam down splash damage attacks – without much worry. My mouse-bound abilities, a little ice projectile and a bigger fire projectile, were more than enough to freeze or fry any slippery demons I encountered, so I only played with her hotkey abilities to spice things up. I used a health potion just once and I didn’t really need to.

Because Diablo IV is a ways off I’d expect things like ability cooldown times and damage numbers to be tweaked as development continues. I’ll focus more on the broader topics, then: the new art and engine, and the Destiny 2-like open world.